Holder for light bulbs

ABSTRACT

A holder for spare light bulbs including a generally rectangular board of molded plastic foam material having a plurality of cavities opening through one surface of the board and arranged in a uniform geometric pattern formed of aligned columns and rows. Bulb holding screw sleeve devices are friction fitted one in each of the cavities.

United States Patent Burrellet a1.

[is] 3,666,l 13 May 30, 1972 HOLDER FOR LIGHT BULBS [72] Inventors: DeanWm. Burrell, 35 Jefferson St., El-

licottville, N.Y. 14731; Paul A.. Costello, 27 Stevens Rd., Needham,Mass. 02192; Robert C. Costello, 349 Adams St., Milton, Mass. 02186 22Filed: Aug. 19,1970

21 App1.No.: 64,967

[52] US. Cl ..21l/26 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 7/00 [58] FieldofSearch .l.......2l1/26, 13, 69.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,554,818 9/1925 Greenstreet..21 1/26 X 1,911,826 5/1933 Kaclber....

2,960,235 11/1960 Farber ....2l l/26 3,055,506 9/1962 Moorhead ..21 1/26FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 683,132 311964 Canada .2! H26 PrimaryExaminerNi1e C. Byers, Jr. Attorney-Bean & Bean [57] ABSTRACT A holderfor spare light bulbs including a generally rectangular board of moldedplastic foam material having a plurality of cavities opening through onesurface of the board and arranged in a uniform geometric pattern formedof aligned columns and rows. Bulb holding screw sleeve devices arefriction fitted one in each of the cavities.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAY30 I972 3.666113 INVIiNlO/(S 0HNwr. BURRELL mm A. cosreuo BY ROBERT c.cosTu0 ATTORNEYS HOLDER FOR LIGHTBULBS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to holdersfor electric light bulbs and more particularly to an inexpensive holderadapted to store in full view spare light bulbs in a suitable locationconvenient for household use.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theholder is in the form of a single, generally rectangular, plastic foamboard having a plurality of cavities, which open through one surfacethereof and are adapted to receive light bulb holding screw sleevedevices. The sleeve devices are friction fitted within the cavities andmay, if necessary, be positively prevented from rotating therein duringuse by applying an adhesive to the walls of the cavities prior toinserting the sleeve devices.

In an alternative form of the present invention, the cavities extendcompletely through the board and have their rear ends closed by a sheetof cardboard or the like adhesively bonded to the rear surface of theboard.

The holder may be mounted on a convenient vertical surface, such as awall, door or the like by passing conventional screw fastener devicesthrough apertures, which are preferably formed in the board during moldforming thereof. When mounted, the holder serves to removably retain aplurality of spare light bulbs in position such that their wattageratings may be readily observed by a user.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of the present invention will be more fullydescribed in the following detailed description taken with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a holder formed in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 22 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an alternativeconstruction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring more particularly to FIG. 1, it willbe seen that the holder of the present invention is generally designatedas 10.

Holder includes a generally rectangular board 12, which is preferablyformed of molded plastic foam material, such as expanded polystyrene. Aswill be apparent from viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, board 12 is formed with aplurality of generally cylindrical cavities 14, which open only throughboard front surface 16. Cavities 14 are preferably formed during moldforming of board 12.

Friction fitted within cavities 14 are screw threaded sleeve devices 18,which may be formed of metal or plastic, as desired. It will beunderstood that sleeve devices 18 are dimensioned to threadably receivethe threaded metal base portions of conventional light bulbs, not shown,such that the light bulbs may be removably mounted on board 12 withtheir glass bulb or illuminating portions, which conventionally havetheir wattage ratings imprinted thereon, arranged to upstand from boardsurface 16. Cavities l4, and thus sleeve devices 18, are preferablyarranged in a uniform geometric pattern formed by aligned columns androws, as best shown in FIG. I, with sufficient spacing therebetween topermit a light bulb to be inserted or removed without interference withadjacent light bulbs. However, the spacing between cavities of adjacentrows or columns may be varied in forming for use by light bulbs ofmaterially different sizes, as well as watt ratings, to be mounted onthe same holder.

The possibility of rotation of sleeve devices 18 within cavities 14during insertion or removal of light bulbs, may be prevented by applyinga suitable quick drying glue or other adhesive, not shown, to the sidewalls of cavities prior to the placin of the sleeve devices therein.

I-Iol er 10 may be mounted on any convenient vertical surface, such as awall, door or the like, not shown, by one or more conventional, headedscrew fasteners 20.

Preferably, apertures, not shown, which are dimensioned to receive screwfasteners 20, are formed in board 12 during fabrication thereof in orderto facilitate mounting of the holder. When holder 10 is mounted, itserves to arrange a plurality of spare light bulbs in position such thatthey can be easily inserted or removed therefrom, while permitting theirwattage ratings to be readily observed by a user.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative form of the present invention, whereincavities 14 open through both front and rear board surfaces 16 and 22,respectively. In this construction, the rear ends of cavities 14 areclosed by a sturdy paper or thin cardboard sheet 24, which may beadhesively bonded to rear surface 22.

While the present holder has been described for use with light bulbs, itwill be apparent that its construction is suitable for use with otherelectrical devices having threaded bases, such as fuses of the plugtype. Moreover, it will be understood that although several forms of thepresent invention have been described, various modifications in theconstruction and/or use thereof will likely occur to one skilled in theart in view of the foregoing description.

We claim:

1. A holder for mounting electrical devices on a vertically disposedmounting surface wherein said devices are characterized as having ascrew threaded base portion, said holder comprising in combination:

a board, said board being mold formed of plastic foam material having aplurality of cavities, said cavities having front ends opening through afront surface of said board, said board carrying means forsimultaneously closing rear ends of said cavities;

a sleeve device frictionally retained within each of said cavities, eachsaid sleeve device being threaded to removably receive said baseportion; and

at least one threaded fastener device for attaching said holder to saidmounting surface, said fastener device being arranged to bear on saidfront surface of said board and to extend rearwardly through said boardand said means carried thereby and into said mounting surface.

2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein said means carried by saidboard comprises an integral part of said board.

3. A holder according to claim 1, wherein said means carried by saidboard comprises a thin sheet of material adhesively bonded to a rearsurface of said board.

1. A holder for mounting electrical devices on a vertically disposedmounting surface wherein said devices are characterized as having ascrew threaded base portion, said holder comprising in combination: aboard, said board being mold formed of plastic foam material having aplurality of cavities, said cavities having front ends opening through afront surface of said board, said board carrying means forsimultaneously closing rear ends of said cavities; a sleeve devicefrictionally retained within each of said cavities, each said sleevedevice being threaded to removably receive said base portion; and atleast one threaded fastener device for attaching said holder to saidmounting surface, said fastener device being arranged to bear on saidfront surface of said board and to extend rearwardly through said boardand said means carried thereby and into said mounting surface.
 2. Aholder according to claim 1, wherein said means carried by said boardcomprises an integral part of said board.
 3. A holder according to claim1, wherein said means carried by said board comprises a thin sheet ofmaterial adhesively bonded to a rear surface of said board.